Perspective: Plenty to be thankful for in these times

Nov. 24, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010 comes amid grinding unemployment, slow but mostly steady economic recovery, enduring war — and political gridlock in Washington. So what's to be thankful for? Some thoughts on the holiday and our times:

"Despite the recession, the war, the ongoing political divide in our nation, despite the intolerance towards people who are somehow different, despite the high unemployment and the feeling of deprivation that so many are experiencing, I believe Thanksgiving is still a special time. It is a time where families can have an opportunity to heal the rifts that have separated them. . . . individuals can and should pause to appreciate all that they have despite the problems that still exist in their lives. . . . I think the holiday will lift many spirits and help us all move positively forward in our lives."

"During times of feast there is a tendency to take the wealth and abundance for granted. However, to be truly thankful is to appreciate life, family, and friends in the midst of adversity, during the famine. This season, amid difficult economic times, provides the perfect opportunity for Americans to demonstrate that we not only celebrate Thanksgiving, but we personify it."

"I believe that Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate what we have that most of the world does not, to stop whining about what we don't have and put aside the political bickering which is destroying our country, and to appreciate our friends and families and recognize that at the end of the day ultimately what goes around comes around."

"A true Thanksgiving would be: if every person would give to local charities throughout the year (rather than just during the holidays)."

"As a country we've seen better times; personally some of us have seen worse; we need to keep things in perspective."

"This year it is important to give thanks for the basics — family, friends and others. During these hard economic times and times of war it is important to rely upon faith and humanness to maintain strength. Always remembering that with faith, family and real friends we have all the important ingredients for success, happiness and health."

"No matter the current concern or lot in life, everyone has something to be thankful for. Whether you have one small thing or too many to recall, one thing is certain. If you're reading this, you have the gift of life. Take a moment and thank someone for sharing it with you — even a stranger."

"Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to put aside our partisan differences and reach for common ground in order to move forward in these challenging times. If we can truly gain an understanding of what we all share as a starting point, we can begin to mend fences and build bridges to improve outcomes for our children, our seniors, our communities and our country at large."

"May we who are rich not avoid our responsibility to others, though it may cost us dearly. May we be generous, though there may be no reward. May our abundance not deepen our spiritual impoverishment, or blind us to material poverty. May we remember that the wealth we enjoy, came from the hard sacrifices of others. May we not be so foolish to think we've earned all we have. May we not be so satisfied to think our work is finished. May we not be so captivated by glamour or status, we forget who loves us. May we say, 'I have enough.' May we say, 'thank you.'"

"Thanksgiving is a time for us all to look at our lives, our work, our hopes and our challenges; a time to reflect on all that's good and all that could be good if we put our talents and energies and hearts into making that happen."

"Despite all the problems and differences that we encounter in this world, in our country, in our lives ... this is still the very best county ... despite the problems, which one of us would want to leave this country? If there's a turnover in power ... we don't see tanks on the streets the next day, as we've seen in other places. We have a transition of power in this democracy. Thanksgiving to me puts this all into perspective."

"... We, the people of the United States, have more that joins us than divides us. When we differ, as we must, those differences should be discussed with intelligence and civility. A true Thanksgiving is when we recognize the truly important things — friends, family, good health and a safe future for our children and grandchildren."